EPIC: Core

Vision: We hope youth in Oakland are free of drugs and alcohol and have a chance to grow into healthy and productive young adults. We hope that youth and community members understand the risks and consequences associated with drinking. In Oakland, we want to see more positive youth leaders, greater economic balance, cleaner environment, increased parent and community participation, and better education towards health issues relevant to youth.

Mission: Environmental Prevention in Communities is a youth driven environmental prevention and advocacy project of the Alcohol Policy Network that trains youth aged 15-20 from Alameda County to identify problems around alcohol in their community. We then create strategies for prevention and education through campaigns, research-based projects, and policy development around alcohol related issues.

Overall, we envision safe and healthy neighborhoods, schools and families in Oakland that support healthy development and wellbeing of our children and youth. Environmental prevention is an essential part of a comprehensive approach to the prevention of alcohol problems, and a proven strategy for helping youth and adults make healthy choices. To achieve this outcome, we promote responsible actions by government, communities and the alcohol industry.

Preventing alcohol problems through environmental change begins by looking at factors in the community that shape alcohol-related problems and influence individual decisions about drinking.

In the summer of 2000, Community Recovery Services (APN since 1989) facilitated focus groups with Oakland youth during which young people identified an over-concentration of alcohol in their neighborhoods as a major roadblock to their personal and academic success. During the focus groups and discussions following the presentations, young people recounted the difficulties of getting to school without being confronted with alcohol. One youth explained, "No matter where you go, you see somebody drinking. Everywhere you go. Even if you're not trying to pay attention to them, you're going to find them."

The focus group participants vocalized a general feeling of living in fear and a distinct powerlessness to change their situations. They recommended a community-based program to help alleviate the issues of danger, violence, and sky rocketing school drop out rates associated with alcohol. One youth explained, "DARE told you what not to do, but it's just one week and they're gone- it wasn't that effective. We need something that has more interaction with the community." Their recommendations also emphasized involving youth in all prevention efforts and programs.

This group of youth became YPP: the Youth Prevention Project which has since turned into EPIC.